The entire way there, Fuyuji Mikage hurried without looking hurried, driven by a uniquely peculiar state of mind. At last, he reached the destination of Kamuro Masumi's trip—the Palette Cafe.
Since the Palette Cafe was a gathering spot for female students, for a male student like himself to co to such a place alone and order a coffee would be far too conspicuous.
So, having already run halfway, he had turned right back around to the classroom. Without any explanation, he had grabbed Shiraishi Asuka's fair, slender hand and sprinted straight for the cafe.
Having been pulled by the hand and rushed all the way there by Fuyuji, Shiraishi was still a little dazed.
Her pale violet eyes reflected the image of their two linked hands. She lifted her head and stared sowhat blankly at Fuyuji's face as he eagerly rushed toward the cafe. Like an exquisite doll at a complete loss, she followed the silhouette of his back, step by step, matching his pace right alongside him.
Entering the cafe, Fuyuji imdiately spotted Sakayanagi Arisu, who was right in the middle of attempting her nefarious sche.
He swiftly found a table positioned in Sakayanagi's blind spot. Pulling Shiraishi along, he sat down and propped up the nu as a shield against the direction Kamuro might possibly glance toward.
"Shiraishi-san, order whatever you like. It's on ."
While continuing to observe the conversing Sakayanagi and Kamuro, Fuyuji slid the adjacent nu in Shiraishi's direction.
"..."
After a long while without hearing any response from her, Fuyuji turned his head quizzically.
"What's—"
The words he was mid-way through speaking stopped.
A flawless, immaculate fair face. Drifting wisps of pale golden hair. Eyes as limpid and clear as a lake's surface. Long, narrow lashes trembling ever so faintly—each of these appeared one by one within his field of view. She was very close. Whether it was an aftereffect of their run just now or not, Fuyuji could feel the faint breaths from her delicate nose ghosting intimately across his own face.
In the corner of the Palette Cafe, a boy and a girl stared fixedly at one another. An elegant piano lody drifted slowly through the air. A strange atmosphere spread between the two of them.
In the end, a cafe waiter approached with slow steps and broke the wordless silence between them. A thin blush surfacing on her cheeks, Shiraishi was the first to shift her eyes away. She lowered her head and quietly placed her own order.
Fuyuji wrenched his head back around. Silently, in his heart, he recited the Calming Mantra, engraving firmly upon his mind the core mission of this operation—rescuing Bro Masumi. He absolutely could not, because of a tiny bit of heart-throbbing, abandon his pal.
At this mont, Kamuro and Sakayanagi were still engaged in aimless small talk. Typically, Sakayanagi would propose a topic with a smile, and Kamuro would indifferently respond with a line or two.
But gradually, Kamuro's expression grew more and more serious. Conversely, the smile on Sakayanagi's face beca ever more composed.
Yabai...
At this rate, wasn't Bro about to have her cover blown? True, he'd never expected Bro to last that long in the first place, but this was way too fast! It hadn't even been a month.
"The situation seems a bit dire, doesn't it."
Having sat still for a while, Shiraishi appeared to have recovered. She'd returned to being that water-like, gentle Shiraishi-mama—
Wait, no!
Fuyuji detected sothing off. This fine, ticulous gaze—this wasn't the usual, all-encompassing Shiraishi-san!
Following Fuyuji's earlier line of sight, Shiraishi leaned close to his ear and whispered. A trace of a cunning, little fox-like smile played on her lips. "You don't want either of them to discover you?"
He woodenly nodded.
"Is that so..."
Shiraishi seed lost in thought.
"Then..."
She partially rose from her seat, carefully pressing down her skirt as she shifted two steps in his direction. Thigh against thigh, arm against arm, shoulder against shoulder, she nestled up close beside him—just like a girl in the throes of passionate love.
"Like this, it's more convincing, isn't it?" She leaned in near Fuyuji's ear, her breath as fragrant as orchids.
A warm current of air gently caressed his ear. Together with the soft sensation of the girl's fair arm, it transmitted straight into his heart. The unique fragrance of shampoo, body wash, and her natural scent mixed together, continuously worming its way into his nostrils. And there was one strand, two strands—who knew how many strands—of hair, tickling the nape of his neck like countless feathers relentlessly plucking at the tip of his heart.
A mont later, Fuyuji ca back to his senses.
He somberly watched Shiraishi, whose eyebrows were curved like crescent moons as she gazed at him. "How did you switch forms again? Clearly, just a mont ago you were a shy, bashful little girl. How co you're now a bewitching older sister? Has anyone ever told you that this form of yours has maxed out its attack power?"
"No, they haven't. You're the only one I've ever used it on." The serene, quiet voice sounded beside his ear. "Also, the reason I beca like this... isn't it because a certain soone has been keeping company with Morishita-san all these days..."
Shiraishi reached out a step further and held his hand. Her voice was incredibly soft, like a murmur in a dream.
"Otherwise, how would I understand so clearly what's in Kamuro-san's heart?"
Fuyuji's heart gave a violent leap.
This girl... she's way too unfair...
He was silent for a long while. Finally, he deliberated and opened his mouth. "I'm sor—"
A slender finger pressed against his lips.
"Don't you say that word to . I hate that word. Also," Shiraishi wrapped her arms around his arm. An indescribable softness spread through his entire body like an electric shock. "Aren't you going to pay attention to Kamuro-san anymore? Their chat seems to have gotten a bit heated."
Holy crap, pal!
Fuyuji, whose CPU had nearly crashed entirely thanks to Shiraishi, gave a violent jolt. He imdiately rebooted, pricking up his ears and attempting to continue eavesdropping.
"Don't put on that pitiful act, Sakayanagi. The truth is, you're not without friends in class. You just couldn't be bothered to make any in the first place."
"Masumi-san is no different, is she? On the surface, you chat with about all sorts of things. In truth, you're probing for intel on Class D. But my feelings toward Masumi-san are genuine, you know. That's precisely why I gave it to you."
"Don't call Masumi. We're not that familiar!" Displeasure bled through Kamuro's voice.
After just a brief exchange, both sides' masks had already been ripped off.
Bro truly was unreliable. She had previously thumped her chest and sworn with absolute conviction that the other party would never see through her.
Now look. Her cover was practically stripped bare already.
Fuyuji listened while inwardly wailing.
"Here..."
Shiraishi forked a piece of cake and brought it to his mouth. "You've got to eat sothing, or you'll give yourself away."
After hesitating for a long mont, Fuyuji still accepted her feeding. He opened his mouth and let her deliver the cake inside.
"How is it?" An expectant look surfaced on Shiraishi's face.
"Pretty good?"
Due to extre tension, Fuyuji hadn't tasted anything at all. So he decided to toss the question right back at her.
He forked a piece of pineapple and brought it toward Shiraishi's lips. Those pupils, originally gleaming with cunning mirth, suddenly constricted. Her entire body froze on the spot.
"You try it?"
"..." Shiraishi had no reaction, rigid as a block of wood.
"Shiraishi-san, ah~ open wide."
She chanically opened her mouth.
"How is it?" Having carefully placed the pineapple into that small mouth, Fuyuji asked in return.
"Sweet..."
Sweet?
He looked down at the golden-yellow pineapple, forked a piece into his own mouth, and chewed. Two seconds later, the pineapple—ant to cleanse the palate—squeezed his eyes into a single, thin, acidic line.
"Speak. What exactly did you call here for?" Kamuro said.
"Can't I call you out just because I want to?" Sakayanagi was not angered; instead, she teased, "I thought we were already friends."
"Tch!" Kamuro clicked her tongue. "If you've got nothing to say, I'm leaving."
"Fine, fine. I truly can't do anything with you, Masumi-san."
Sakayanagi picked up her coffee, took a sip, and then set it down leisurely.
"What I wanted to ask is, Masumi-san," confidence laced her pleasant, lodious voice, "who is the owner behind you?"
Kamuro's expression shifted slightly, but she quickly steadied herself. "I don't understand what you're saying. Do you actually think I'm the type of person who would let soone order around?"
"That's right." Sakayanagi revealed a smile of absolute certainty.
"From my perspective, Masumi-san is the type of person who, without soone to guide her, can't find her own direction. Therefore, there must be an owner like that behind you."
"There isn't." Kamuro flatly denied it.
"In that case, even better."
Sakayanagi didn't mind at all that she hadn't gotten an answer. After layers upon layers of ticulous groundwork, she finally bared her fangs.
"Masumi-san, since there isn't... co work for . I'm very fond of you."
"Impossible. You're Class D. I'm Class A. Besides, don't you Class D have a huge crowd of people? Just pick one at random."
"No need to mind such trivial matters. I won't force you to do anything detrintal to Class A. As for that crowd in my class," Sakayanagi's smile, uncharacteristically, faltered, "although I can order them around, they truly aren't anywhere near as outstanding as Kamuro-san."
"Still impossible."
"As expected, it's because of that owner of yours? If I may be blunt, sending you to do such unskilled labor fundantally fails to reflect your actual capabilities. Moreover, judging by all indications, he doesn't value you whatsoever. He just casually tosses you a few simple tasks to kill ti. But deep down, you're actually very bored, aren't you? Soone like him can never truly satisfy you. Co to my side. I am the one who can bring out your true talents."
Sakayanagi!
So you really were trying to bull-steal my pal!! And you even launched a personal attack against , calling an incompetent owne—!
An incompetent classmate! How could this be tolerated?!
I'm going out there right now to confront her directly! There's no way I'm handing my pal over to you!
Eavesdropping from the side, Fuyuji was about to split open on the spot. He was just starting to rise when Shiraishi grabbed him by the shoulder. She said softly, "It seems Kamuro-san still has more to say..."
"I refuse!"
Kamuro folded her arms. Her gaze drifted outside the window, the rims of her ears flushing slightly red. "Even if he's a detestable guy... I don't want to change the way things are now. That guy... he's fine."
Bro...
Fuyuji felt a surge of emotion. I'm sorry. I swear I'll never tell you to go take the Todai entrance exams again. But wait... didn't you basically just confess it yourself?
"Is that so..." Sakayanagi nodded. "Then, may I ask who he is? I'd like to get to know him." It seed this had been her goal from the very start.
"He's not interested in knowing you." Even though her first two lines of defense had been breached in succession, on this final barrier, Kamuro refused to budge an inch.
"Perhaps we already know each other?" Sakayanagi, still unwilling to give up, probed.
Shiraishi, having recovered once more, poked Fuyuji's arm. "Did Mikage-kun know her before?"
"We've crossed paths a few tis at school," Fuyuji said, rubbing his chin.
Shiraishi nodded and continued eavesdropping on the conversation between the two.
After having several consecutive questions shot down by Kamuro, Sakayanagi's competitive spirit had been fully ignited.
"Fine then... since Masumi-san is unwilling, I'll simply have to find him on my own."
"Suit yourself." Kamuro leaned back in her chair, looking utterly indifferent. "If you can manage it, go ahead and defeat him."
"Oh? Does Masumi-san not believe I can defeat him?" Sakayanagi stated, as light as wind and cloud.
"Whoever wins between you two has nothing to do with ." Kamuro shoved a mouthful of cake into her mouth.
"I see."
...
The two continued chatting for another ten or so minutes. Sakayanagi glanced at the ti, gave a slight bow, and announced her departure.
"It's ti for my daily chess practice. Please forgive for taking my leave first."
"Goodbye." Kamuro had absolutely no intention of seeing her off.
"Masumi-san," halfway out, Sakayanagi suddenly recalled sothing and turned back. "If I were to have that owner of yours expelled... would you co to my side?" The cruel words ca out from those small lips as casually as if she were rely stepping out to toss a piece of trash.
"Impossible." The words shot out without a shred of hesitation.
"Is that so. You don't believe at all that I can defeat that owner of yours?" Sakayanagi revealed a smile. "Then I am truly a little curious. That owner of yours may well be the very person I've been searching for. We may have many more topics to discuss in the future."
Having said this, Sakayanagi lifted the hem of her skirt, gave an elegant curtsy, and then, without lingering a mont longer, departed directly from the cafe.
Gazing after Sakayanagi's silhouette, gradually vanishing under the lights, Kamuro sat there blankly in a daze. It was unclear what she was thinking.
And then, soone sat down beside her.
"Oi, can't you see—"
Kamuro turned her head.
Fuyuji was sitting right next to her, holding his drink with a deeply moved expression on his face.
"When did you get here?"
"Been here the whole ti." Shiraishi, following right behind, explained with a smile.
"You two were following the whole ti?" Kamuro asked in disbelief.
"We were just afraid you'd get tricked, that's all. But facts have proven you're still reliable."
Kamuro felt dazed. She prided herself as a master stalker, yet never imagined that Fuyuji had actually stalked her—and had been sitting close by the whole ti without being detected.
"In other words... you heard every single word I just said, perfectly clearly?"
An extre sense of humiliation rose from the soles of Kamuro's feet and shot straight up to her brain. In an instant, she felt her entire face burning hot.
"Don't mind those minor details. We're bros, after all. Isn't knowing each other inside and out totally normal... Bro, what are you taking out your phone for?"
"I suddenly think Sakayanagi Arisu's side isn't so bad after all."
"No, don't! I'll give you a raise!"
"How much of a raise?"
"Go grind out another fully Limit Broken Jalter. There, satisfied now?"
"You goddamned trash capitalist!"
"Hey, now, that's not quite right. As your boss, I do have so employee benefits. Right on ti for dinner. Shiraishi-san, Bro, let's eat here together. What do you two want?"
"I want this, this, and this. And bring one of everything else on the nu."
"Oi, oi, Bro, can you even finish all that?"
"None of your business!"
"I'll just have the sa as you."
"Shiraishi-san, you're the best!"
The casual chatter of the three continuously rose from one corner of the cafe. Mingling with the piano lody and the aroma of food, it drifted outward together, finally sinking into the deep blue.
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